Puerto Rico 11th February 2013

Coffee in Mayageuz

Puerto Rico

We arrived around 05.30 and waited for the Marina staff to arrive and allow us to berth.  Customs and Immigration then duly arrived in the shape of three Homeland Security Officials.  They were VERY polite and interested in our travels and the boat.  They told us there had been no rain here for 2 months so no fresh shower for ’Piano’...  They made the most rigorous search of the boat yet! But all done in an interested way (Note to self : I must get the polish out again some of those cupboards are showing a slight film of growth…) Passports stamped they left us in peace!  We bunkered with fuel and water then went to anchor.  “Waterman” and “Nautilus”  are here too.
Around lunchtime the heavens opened!  So Piano DID get her wash! Later we got a lift into town to Plaza Las Delicias for the Grand Ball of the Carnival together with Orchestra.  At 7 o’clock it was still pouring so we asked the tourist Police for help.  They gave us fliers for restaurants etc so we went to eat.  WOW ! What a menu maybe we will have to stay for a couple of weeks! OOOps  it’s within the Ramada Hotel and Called “LOLA” - eclectic cuisine.  Awesome!

  The rain was till pouring at 20.30 so a quick look round the empty Square with fast food and souvenir stalls then we expect the entertainment will start at midnight as usual- so a taxi home and an early night.
   Tuesday 12th, we sailed back to Gillican’s Island. A perfect day apart from Malcolm bashing his head and third finger while lifting the anchor ! I ought to start a first aid log. Not to mention all the black clay dirtying the topsides!

  No rain overnight so a pleasant lie in, until 8 ish, then bread and cake to bake before we went snorkelling at a spot Malcolm had been out to while I baked. Our first time amongst the Mangrove trees, and the sea was decidedly cooler than usual… Re loaded the Rib before cooking Coq –au-Vin which we haven’t had for a few years.

S/Y Waterman

Thursday, sailed to Coffin Island for an overnight stay, then on to Salinas, which now has wi- fi at the bar!  I had sufficient battery to download all emails including the Yahoo address– which had three from some distant ancestors on my fathers side.  We caught up with S/Y Waterman and after a skinful of Rum cocktail and red wine we all tucked into spare ribs chips and salad.
   Back aboard I began to write back to the family and check out other emails.  Saturday we had a car for 3 days so took Bep & Hidda (Waterman) shopping with us. Then did the first half of a tourist route around to Ponce and home. Sunday we all took a trip to Mayaguez on the Western end of the Island.  It was a 6 hour drive along the next part of the tourist trail but we took a few wrong turns which delayed us.

Still we enjoyed a quick lunch of Pizza (with enough to have lunch another day) Then completed the trip with a coffee in the town centre before a rather quicker trip home on the autopista.  Sundowners aboard ‘Waterman’.
Monday we drove to Fajardo on the western tip and had lunch beside the sea overlooking some dozen Tarpon fish which were almost a metre long!  Yet more shopping and then we had Bep & Hidda over for sundowners.  They remembered ‘Piano’ from their times with Jan &; Ghislaine and seemed overjoyed to be back aboard.  They also sang the praises of the reconstructive work done by the shipyard.
Tuesday just the emails to send of and what a surprise another 25 to read– more work for the next stop...

Dominican Republic 28th January 2013

Boat speed reads 10 Knots!

Three days and 3 hours sail to Bocca Chicca yet again slowing down to get in during daylight.  It was also a tricky entrance with what looked like breaking water dead ahead.  Raoul the chief marina man had heard us calling on VHF 5 and asked us to switch to 6. This done he then came out to guide us in and help us berth.  It really was far easier letting him sort our all the arrival documents rather than stressing out and doing it ourselves.  He also showed us all we needed ashore to make our stay pleasant.
Buses were cheap so we had a day in Santo Domingo where we toured the Colonial district with Ben who gave us a commentary. This too is a World Heritage drain-hole so the Panteón Nacional,  Park Colón and Fortaleza Ozama were all toured. Pictures on Picasa.  We also had a morning at ‘Los Tres Ojos’. These are classic limestone caves with stalactites etc etc. Named the 3 Eyes since whenever a Dominican finds a lake it is called the first eye, obviously 3 were found hence the name. There are actually 4 lakes. 
We hired a car to view some of the island. First to the mountainous region around Jarabaçoa.  We stopped overnight at a hostel and walked to the local river, had a meal atop the ‘Lap of the Gods’ and walked a disused tourist trail to a waterfall.  Bliss- since there were no other tourists.  Then onto Puerto Plata via Monte Christi (near Luberon) and Los Hidalgos, (lunch) and Imbert to ask directions and give a lift to 6 girls who wanted a ride to Puerto Plata.  This took the whole afternoon so we only had a brief look at the town where Columbus landed.  It was the first weekend of Carnival and the waterfront was thick with costumed entries to the procession.  Here we were told that Faro a Colón a massive cruciform building to house the ashes of Columbus had suffered a fire so not open for viewing.  It would have been a highlight with the illuminations in the sky in the shape of a cross.  Needless to say we didn’t get back to ‘Piano’ until 11.30 after a stressful drive home.
  Less stressful was the trip to Santa Barbara de Samana to go Whale watching.  Yes we decided to Pay to view! OK a tourist rip off but we did get to see hump-backed whales at close range! Plus a Lobster lunch and an hour on the beach.  By far the best motorway on the island with practically no traffic also a pay road so no wonder.
Is it stll snowing in the UK????